www.mendedheartsct.org

Hartford Heartline

May 2020

The Mended Hearts, Inc. Chartered 1977 - Greater Hartford - Chapter 9

“It’s Great to be Alive - and to help Others”

About Mended Hearts

Mended Hearts is a national non-profit organization made up of and serving people with heart disease and their loved ones. Mended Hearts welcomes anyone who is interested in learning more about heart disease.

Supported by a national office, 280 local

chapters actively serve across the United

States and Canada. The network is made up

of patients having had heart events,

family members, caregivers and health care

professionals who provide information and

support to recovering patients and their

families during hospital visits, by telephone,

through group meetings and via the Internet.

Mended Hearts Chapter 9 will be excited to

see all of you at our upcoming meetings.

Both patients and caregivers, and interested

parties are welcome to attend, FREE, with

no commitment to join our organization.

We have interesting speakers and

refreshments.

Please be advised that due to concerns over the COVID-19 Virus all patient and family in-person visits will be suspended until

further notice. However we are offering our monthly Meetings via a remote Web Conference. Please join us via the connection

information below:

Topic: Chapter 9 Mended Hearts May 2020 Monthly Meeting Time: May 20, 2020 7:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting (Follow the link for Video and Audio): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81403965557?pwd=QzhNTjdpcHdCSit4QXE2QmdlU0RPZz09 From Zoom.com: Meeting ID: 814 0396 5557 Password: CHAPTER9 Dial by your location (Audio Only): 1-929-436-2866 US (New York) Meeting ID: 814 0396 5557 Password: 672900

The President’s Corner

To the Members, Caregivers, and Friends of Mended Hearts, Chapter 9

Greater Hartford, Connecticut

Greetings to Members and Friends of Chapter #9: My current hope is that you & your loved ones are staying healthy and safe as we work our way thru these

difficult times. We are all in this together. Your actions in following the recommendations of the health experts

are making a difference. Taking social distancing seriously and doing your part to flatten the curve of this

pandemic IS making a difference. You represent Chapter 9 in a very positive manner. Congratulations and

thank you!

Chapter 9 is making me proud by displaying such good judgement. Your actions at this time help reinforce our

motto – “It’s Great To Be Alive, And To Help Others”! Be well, stay safe, and most importantly – WASH YOUR

HANDS!

Respectfully,

Rick LeMay, Mended Hearts Chapter 9 President

Page 2

Mended Hearts Chapter 9 Info

Chapter 9 OFFICERS

2020-2022

President Rick LeMay (860) 794-7111

Email: rlemay1954@gmail.com

Vice-President

John A. Dunn 15 Strawberry Hill

Windsor, CT 06095 860-688-5489

Email: jjhmdunn@msn.com

Secretary

Robert Hoffman

25 Lovelace Drive West Hartford, CT 06117 860-232-8417

Email: vrome@att.net Treasurer

Steve Livingston 501 Dzen Way South Windsor, CT 06074 860-644-4250

Email: stevelivingston@cox.net

Assistant Regional Director/ Executive Vice-President

Robert Hoffman

25 Lovelace Drive West Hartford, CT 06117 860-232-8417

Email: vrome@att.net

Visiting Chairman/Trainer – Hartford Hospital

Visiting Chairman/Trainer - St. Francis Hospital Hospital:

Webmaster/Newsletter Layout John Klimczak 860-593-9419 E-Mail: jklimczak@sbcglobal.net

John Dunn 860-688-5489

Newsletter Distribution & Mailing:

John & Joan Dunn 860-688-5489

Program Chairman:

Steve Livingston 860-644-4250

Refreshments: Coordinator

Newsletter Editor:

John Klimczak 860-593-9419 Newsletter Editor Emeritus:

Priscilla Soucy

Bob Hoffman 860-232-8417

Bonnie Morassini 860-635-2920

Enjoy the Newsletter in color on our new and improved website!

Here’s a link to the

National Mended Hearts Website:

http://mendedhearts.org

CHAIRPERSONS - 2018-2020

http://mendedheartsCT.org

Mark Your Calendars: Mended Hearts Chapter 9 Annual

Banquet Scheduled for September, 2020

The Mended Hearts Chapter 9 Board of

Directors voted on March 11, 2020 to continue our Annual Banquet.

The date was originally planned for June, however, with the unknown virus reality, we

later voted to schedule it for:

Wednesday, September 16th, 2020 (provided COVID-19 conditions allow)

More details forthcoming!

Mended Hearts volunteers offer peer-to-peer support to patients, family members and caregivers via:

- Hospital Visiting – In person visit from a Mended Hearts volunteer

- Phone Visiting – Calling to provide a word of encouragement

Our mission is to “inspire hope in heart disease patients and their families.”

Steve Livingston 860-644-4250

Correspondence Chairperson :

Health News

Page 3

At-Home and Online Workouts

When gyms closed in March, many were scrambling for ways to keep in shape - or some semblance of shape -without our treadmills, weights, and the accountability of trainers. And let's face it: most of us are not that creative when it comes to exercise at home, and maybe a quarantine was an easy excuse to let things slide for a bit.

Time to ditch the excuses. Whether online or in-home, workouts outside of the gym are abundant.

Here are some ideas to consider:

Check YouTube for free classes, from yoga to intense cardio (and admit it - you're probably home in your yoga pants anyway).

Squats. These are easy to do in small spaces and can be done with weights or just body weight. You can practice good form by setting a chair about three feet from a wall, face the wall with your feet about shoulder-width apart, and then squatting down until your butt touches the chair (or your face touches the wall).

Push-ups. The useful thing about push-ups is that there are tons of variations, ranging from traditional straight-leg push-ups done on the floor to wall pushups.

Circuit training. Choose a rotation of activities that work a variety of muscle groups and work through the activities two or three times. The rotation could include squats, planks, lunges, jumping jacks, and others.

Get outside and take a walk, a hike, bike, or go for a run. (If social distancing advisories are still in place, this isn't the time to meet with a group. Consider whether you can keep a safe distance apart from others, and remember that you could be breathing heavily.)

Check with your gym to see whether they're offering online workouts or have sent materials to members with suggested exercises to do on your own. Source: National Mended Hearts Monthly Newsletter, May,,2020

Health and Happiness in Age of Coronavirus

As the world grapples with how to stay healthy during a new way of living that includes social distancing and the closing of our gyms and restaurants - among a multitude of other businesses - seniors in particular can face unique challenges. Aside from concerns about illness itself, seniors may also be missing their group exercise classes and bridge clubs, not to mention visits from family. It's vital to remain as active and connected as possible while also staying safe. Although many of us have been tempted to sink onto the couch recently, hopefully we've started moving again. That doesn't mean you should attempt burpees on the living room floor, however; consider wall push-ups instead. At the very least, get up and walk around the house at regular intervals, whether it's during commercials or a time designated by setting a timer. Take a walk around the neighborhood or at a (not crowded) park if you're able. If you're comfortable using the internet, the National Council on Aging has an online exercise resource called Go4Life. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Video chats are a great option to keep in touch with family, though phone calls are an equally excellent option. Among its resources, the Institute on Aging also offers a 24-hour toll-free Friendship Line for people 60 and older and adults living with disabilities. The Friendship Line is a crisis intervention hotline as well as a warm line for nonemergency emotional support calls; they also make ongoing outreach calls.

Source: National Mended Hearts Monthly Newsletter, May,,2020

Page 4

NEWSFLASH:

Mended Hearts Chapter 9 is Offering

Remote Monthly Meetings

As previously stated, Chapter 9 is offering our monthly

meetings via a ZOOM remote Web Meeting for the

foreseeable future due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ZOOM Conferences are customer friendly and

connection info can be found on Page 1 of the

Newsletter.

In order to get familiar with this new medium here are

some helpful tips:

PLANNING FOR A ZOOM MEETING

Make sure lighting is OK so others can see you.

Frame the camera correctly. Others don’t want

to see your ceiling or floor.

Choose your location wisely to ensure a quiet,

secure environment.

Wear appropriate clothing

DO’S AND DON’T’S FOR ATTENDING

ZOOM MEETINGS

DO:

PLEASE be on-time. Chapter 9 meetings are

scheduled to begin at 7:00 p.m. You are

encouraged to log-in as early as 6:30 to allow

time to address any technical issues you might

experience.

Please honor everyone’s privacy &

confidentiality. Treat this meeting with courtesy

& respect towards everyone in attendance.

Pay attention. Guest speakers and others in

attendance deserve it.

Practice active listening, avoid interrupting, and

avoid being insensitive.

Let everyone speak, if they want to. No one is

forced to speak.

DON’T

Fall asleep during the meeting. To do so is

disrespectful to the person speaking.

Eat during a meeting.

Offer medical advice, even if you are a medical

professional and asked. Leave that to the

people entrusted with an individual’s care.

Looking forward to “seeing” you at the

May 20, 2020 ZOOM Meeting!

Can't Get Out for Memorial Day? Try This!

A treasured tradition for many is to decorate graves on Memorial Day. How pleasant it is on a sunny day to finally find the right stone, pull a couple of weeds around it, then arrange the flowers. But, inevitably, some things get in the way of that trip: Bad weather, no ride, or a quarantine for some virus. No matter! You can still visit the grave at the website FindAGrave.com -- and you can leave digital flowers too. The website has an amazing database of gravesites around the country. Even small historical cemeteries are listed. Thanks to the work of volunteers around the country, FindAGrave.com has grown to be a huge index of cemeteries. You can search by name or cemetery to find your loved one. You can leave digital flowers and even a note. You'll also be able to see notes others have left. So if you can't get to the cemetery on Memorial Day, you'll discover FindAGrave.com - a very satisfying option.

Source: National Mended Hearts Monthly Newsletter, May,,2020

Source: National Mended Hearts Monthly Newsletter, May,,2020

Health News/General Information

Challenge Yourself with this Fun Crossword Puzzle

Source: National Mended Hearts Monthly Newsletter, May,,2020

Page 6

General Interest Information

Newly visited patients, their caregivers, and others who

have requested our newsletter will receive copies for three

months. It is our way of keeping in touch with you. Hope

and encouragement are offered by members who are living

proof that people with heart disease can continue to lead

full and productive lives. We hope as you recover you will

be able to attend our meetings and want to become a

member, or as family members, and join us in helping

others.

Please don’t throw this newsletter away. When you have

finished reading it, why not pass it along to others. You

could drop it off in your doctor’s office or give it to a friend

or relative. This way more people will get the Mended

Hearts message, and know who and what we are.

Hartford Heartline, is written for the education and

information of the members of Mended Hearts and all those

concerned with heart health. It is not intended as a

substitute for the advice of your physician. Always check

with your physician or cardiologist regarding any questions

you may have about your condition.

.

NOTICE TO VISITORS

When you acquire names of patients, caregivers, or

others that want to receive our newsletter, please email

John Dunn Email: jjhmdunn@msn.com

NEW READERS

CAUTION!

STOP!! Or: Go to Main St., East Hartford...heading

South.Willow Street is opposite the main entrance to

Pratt & Whitney. Monroe Mufflers is on corner.

Turn right.

Turn left at the end of Willow Street onto Riverside Drive.

Go almost to the end of the road and Goodwin

University (the main building) will be on the right.

“Mandy Hart” our Special Piggy Bank for donations to the Madden Open Hearts Camp

currently has a balance of $206.14. (After our annual donation of $600.00 to the Madden Open Hearts Camp in July, 2019)

The 50/50 raffle is held every Monthly Meeting to Benefit the Mandy Hart Fund.

There is always an opportunity to donate and win at upcoming monthly meetings!

Parking is available at the front entrance to the building

and also on the left side of the street there is a well lit

parking lot.

Directions:

(From 1-84 East, in Hartford)

Take Route 2 East

Take Exit 5 to Willow St / Riverside

Drive. Don’t go onto Willow St – Stay to the right onto

Riverside Drive

Go almost to the end of the road and Goodwin University

(the main building will be on the right.)

Our meeting location which will be at:

Goodwin University – Room 311

245 Riverside Drive

East Hartford, CT

Note: Using above address in your GPS gets you to correct

building.

MEETING LOCATION

THANKS TO HARTFORD HOSPITAL FOR THE MAILING OF THIS NEWSLETTER

OBJECTIVES OF MENDED HEARTS, INC.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS ORGANIZATION IS TO OFFER HOPE, SUPPORT, AND ENCOURAGEMENT

TO HEART DISEASE PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND TO ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE IN THE

FOLLOWING MANNER:

A. To visit, with physician approval, and to offer hope, encouragement and support to heart disease

patients and their families.

B. To distribute information of specific educational value to members of Mended Hearts, Inc. and to heart

disease patients and their families.

C. To establish and maintain a program of assistance to physicians, nurses, medical professionals, and

health care organizations in their work with heart disease patients and their families.

D. To cooperate with other organizations in education and research activities pertaining to heart disease.

E. To establish and assist established heart disease rehabilitaion programs for members and their families.

F. To plan and conduct suitable programs of social and educational interest for members and for heart

patients and their families.

THANKS TO ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL FOR THE PRINTING OF THIS NEWSLETTER